“The president of Bahrain’s automobile federation, Sheikh Abdullah bin Isa Al Khalifa, said he expected protests at the event and is ‘happy’ for people to do so as long as they remain peaceful and orderly.”

“After five years of off-the-shelf electronic systems, over the next 12 months F1’s engine companies face two completely different races against time: one to interface their V8s with the new ECUs; the other to fully integrate the black box’s myriad systems into their ‘green’ machines.”

“Another factor is where exactly are the lapped drivers supposed to go? If they stray off the racing line, their tyres will collect marbles, which will therefore affect their own personal race. If they remain on the racing line, forcing the lapping cars to stray off the line, then they also will collect marbles and have their race affected. It’s a vicious circle that the blue flags can’t always solve.”

There is no political zero in this. If F1 goes it shows support for the ruling elite.
And if not it shows support for the protesters.

Yes, there is a political zero here. All the sport has to do is say “We are cencelling the race because we are concerned for the safety of teams, the media and spectators” – and then stick to it when one side in Bahrain claims a victory in the sport’s actions (ie, if the protestors applaud themselves for getting the race cancelled, the sport simply has to maintain that it felt the country was unsafe). It’s a neutral way of backing out because it doesn’t take either side.

@mike – That’s not my point, and you know it. You’re obviously trying to create a situation where Formula 1 has to side with either the government or the protestors. But there is a politically-neutral stance that the sport can take.

What I’m saying is that if the race is cancelled on the grounds of safety, and the cancellation is substantiated by the reports of violent clashes between the people and the government, then it is politically neutral. Yes, the race organisers are trying to tell everyone that the country is safe enough to go ahead, and yes, it looks bad for them if the race is cancelled because the country is unsafe, but all it says about them is that they don’t have a very firm grasp of the situation in their own back yard. It won’t be a case of Formula 1 siding with the protestors.

F1 not going to Bahrain is what the protesters want. F1 doesnâ€™t have to side with them to fulfill this.

If the race does not go ahead, the protestors will undoubtedly claim it as a victory over the government. However, the sport simply need to make it quite clear that they are not siding with anyone. After all, the clashes are between security forces and protestors. The government might be more culpable than the protestors, but that does not exonerate them. The country is currently unsafe because two opposing groups of people are fighting. If there are no security forces, there is no conflict. If there are no protestors, there is no conflict. Whatever their motives and whatever their grievances, the simple fact is that two sides in violent opposition to one another make the country unsafe. Therefore, Formula 1 can withdraw from the country whilst distancing itself from both sides of the the conflict. It does mean denying support of the protestors, but the sport is already denying support of the government.

@damonsmedley – As I am not currently in Bahrain, I cannot attest to the full sitaution there. However, I will broadly say that I am against the race if it is unsafe for teams, drivers, the media and spectators to attend. It is difficult to gauge exactly how safe the country is at the moment, and as the race is still two weeks away, it is conceivable – however unlikely – that any number of scenarios could play out between now and then that end the conflict.

@Prisoner-Monkeys I’m obviously going to agree with that, but I’m also against the race if it’s being used by the Kingdom of Bahrain as a tool for pulling the wool over the world’s eyes. And so far, apart from being good for their economy (and Bernie’s pockets), I can’t see what else will come of this race being staged. The fact the government seem so desperate to hold the race is a bit suspicious to me.

So I’m also against the race if it’s dangerous to people that are going to be at the track, but I’m completely against the race as it poses a threat to the opposition/protesters’ voices ever being heard — which is why I believe the government want it so bad. So it’s also dangerous for the citizens of Bahrain once Formula 1 leaves the country.

Iâ€™m also against the race if itâ€™s being used by the Kingdom of Bahrain as a tool for pulling the wool over the worldâ€™s eyes.

I’m against that, too. But I’m equally against the protesters using it for their their own political purposes. Sport and politics should be separate. Especially in this case, because – as I’ve said a thousand times already – it opens up a nasty can of worms where races are cancelled in some countries because of human rights violations, but they take place in other countries despite similar violations.

That’s why I think that, if the race is cancelled, the FIA should publicly announce that they are cancelling it on the grounds of safety, and to deny any political and/or moral reasoning for the cancellation.

I agree with that @prisoner-monkeys, F1 should do exactly that as its obvious for anyone who follows the news that security cannot be guaranteed without martial law and strong use of force to protect all people.

@bascb – I think the FIA will leave it to the last possible moment to decide one way or the other whether the race should go ahead. Which makes sense, since it gives everyone the best possible opportunity to get what they want.

@prisoner-monkeys, if it is cancelled, I guess you are right about the FIA wanting to wait till after the China race to be able to point to the most recent developments in arguing their point.

Although its possible they will again leave it to the Bahraini authorities to retract their statement that they “have everything under control” as that is a key point in the FIA arguing for the race to go ahead.
And it would keep the initiative at the Bahrain side, saving a bit of pride for them (and leaving it to them to tell Bernie to keep the race fee non the less, just like they did last year.)

I believe if there is a good chance that the Bahrain Gp will be more dangerous for the f1 entourage then any of the other races, they definitely shouldn’t go. There are outside security risks in all f1 races, some of the grizzly stories regarding kidnap attemps at former Brazilian gp’s spring to mind, however to the best of my knowledge, f1 staff have remained safe and no bullets have been fired on an f1 track; this record needs to remain.If the teams or there respective insurance companies perceive an increased risk than seen before at other tracks, then they shouldn’t go as it would be heartbreaking to lose lives if the route to the f1 track and the track itself are too dangerous.

If the ruling elite are having to murder people to enable the race to continue then of course we shouldn’t go to Bahrain, no good person could kill to race

I think that if there is a good chance that the Bahrain Gp will be more dangerous for the f1 entourage then any of the other races, they definitely shouldn’t go. There are outside security risks in all f1 races to some degree, some of the grizzly stories regarding kidnap attemps at former Brazilian gp’s spring to mind, however to the best of my knowledge, f1 staff have remained safe and no bullets have been fired on an f1 track; this record needs to remain.If the teams or there respective insurance companies perceive an increased risk than seen before at other tracks, then they shouldn’t go as it would be heartbreaking to lose lives if the route to the f1 track and the track itself are too dangerous.

If the ruling elite are having to murder people to enable the race to continue then of course we shouldn’t go to Bahrain, no good person could kill to race

Anyone see the channel 4 news on Bahrain? Dont worry..it HAS to be cancelled. Protesters will disrupt the race. It is common sense that it should’nt go ahead as it is a bloody warzone..having an F1 race in Bahrain is like having one in Syria or Afghanistan..

Ecclestone is full of greed only wanting money from this..it might look all glitz and glamour at the race but down the road people could be getting shot at for protesting..not a good advertisement for motorsport.

I disagree. Ever since Bahrain joined the calendar in 2004, we’ve seen a rapid expansion of the sport. On average, one new race has become a part of the World Championship, and there are several other countries lobbying for races. If money was the only reason why Formula 1 was going to Bahrain, it stands to reason that it would be far easier and far less of a hassle to simply cancel the race and go elsewhere.

@mopatop – Cancellation isn’t the same as termination. If the Bahrain Grand Prix were cancelled, it would mean that the race does not go ahead in 2012. If the contract was terminated, it would mean that the race does not go ahead ever again. Cancelling the race for any reason related to the protests would be seen as a failure of the organisers (who are funded by the government) to be ready for the race. Ecclestone wouldn’t be liable.

I don’t know exactly what happened, but I’m pretty sure Bernie didn’t just keep the money. He either repaid it, or he treated it as the sanctioning fee for the 2012 race, which would mean Bahrain does not have to pay this year.

Well, I think you’re over-stating that. Bahrain has to pay for the 2012 race somehow. Since they lost the 2011 race, they might as well have put the funds allocated for it to good use. Especially since they were operating under the belief that, one way or another, the uprising would be over by the time the 2012 race came around. And they were originally penned in for September-October 2012 – with the race to precede Abu Dhabi as round 17 of the championship – thereby giving them eighteen months to get their country in order. So I don’t think it was a bribe at all. It was just a case of the government thinking it was easier to let FOM have the money for the 2012 race as opposed to taking the money back and then paying it again at a later date.

Thank you Keith for putting up all the background available on Bahrain. That BBC interview shows IMO how there is a deep rift in understanding of what Bahrain is like right now between Bahraini’s. The people supporting the race seem to live in a bubble of feeling things are being back to normal (possibly because of omitting news that is unfavorable in national media), and seeing how it would be good for the economy to get back to work and earn every one money.

The people who are not satisfied with the government actions show how there was little real action taken to address the issues raised in the BIC report, nor anything done to move towards more influence for the majority in a political sense. Instead the government has turned towards systematical arresting of dissent as well as teargassing areas where protests could arise to keep everything under a blanket.

All the reason to leave Bahrain to address its issues before going in there with over 3000 people (not sure about any foreign spectators wanting to turn up right now) and have a sporting event.

@Lothario No, they’re probably unlikely to have been speaking English at all to be honest, but I probably wouldn’t have won if I’d written “Ich wette einen Zehner, dass Alonso nach Malaysia die Fuehrung der Weltmeisterschaft uebernimmt” etc!

I’m afraid these has-beens need to stop looking for obscure miracles that will grant them a magical F1 cockpit and learn to move on. Of course, I’m referring to the likes of Barrichello, Liuzzi, Trulli, Heidfeld, Chandhok and co. There’s much talent brewing in the wings, and the fact that talent like Sutil gets overlooked is already a shame in itself.

Bahrain is nothing special, and I dont mean the circuit, I mean the country itself. China has way worse human rights violations, if anything can be said is that Bahrain allows freedom enough that people are not afraid of speaking their mind. China doesn’t even allow that much, so why are we making a fuss about Bahrain, because of freedom, freedom of speech.

I agree with what Damon Hill has said about JB. I don’t think WDC JB is the same driver he was, perhaps even since last year that saw him come up a notch again, by besting LH on ‘his’ team as the relative newcomer for whom they had less data and experience compared to LH. I think no longer can it be said that LH is the better driver…not saying JB is either…just saying I think this is a whole new ballgame between these two Mac drivers and it’s going to be great fun to watch what happens this season. I think after last year the onus is more on LH to prove last year was a mix of things that went wrong for him that can be corrected, and so in that sense I think LH has more pressure on him to best JB. Let’s see how he does in this ‘pressure’ situation. He won’t want to be bested by JB again, making two years in a row.

Fair enough, but that to me doesn’t change the fact that I think JB is better than ever, more confident than ever, and even if it’s just about making tires last these days, he’s capitalizing when the cars come to him as you say, and I think LH has his hands full with JB as a teammate.

I feel a bit simpifetic (Correct me if I mispelt) for Liuzzi, having more than one year on his previous two contracts, and he gets ousted by both Force India and HRT. I took a look on the HRT website, Liuzzi isn’t an official test driver in their eyes, infact he is alongside the young Chinese driver Ma Qing Hua. I think HRT see Tonio as one of those very annoying infants who wants a go on those kids machines that are disguised as something from a TV show that they like, and he wants a, lets say, ten minute go on it but only being allowed five minutes as his older brothers (Pedro and Narain) need to meet up with their father. Maybe this way of explaining is diabolical, but you get what I mean? L